Lars Boom makes a successful return to cyclocross ahead of showdown with the Belgians this weekend

Lars Boom (Rabobank) won the Grand Prix Julien Cajot in Leudelange, Luxembourg on Sunday, to mke a successful start to his own campaign this season. While the race was only ranked as a category 2, and the majority of the sport’s top riders were racing in the World Cup in Igorre, Spain, it gives the 24-year-old Dutch champion a confience boost ahead of his first big race of the season; Boom is due to start in the Vlaamse Druivenveldrit in Overijse, Belgium this coming Sunday.

“Lovely shower in the camper,” Boom posted to Twitter after the race. “Had a nice feeling riding around today. Led the race from start to finish!”

Indeed, he took the lead on the very first lap and held it to the finish to take the win well clear of Belgian Ben Berden (Qin Cycling Team) and American Jonathan Page (Planet Bike).

“What the value of this victory is, we will find out next weekend,” said Boom in a team statement. “The top riders were not here, they are all in Spain; but it’s a very nice way to begin.

“I did not know quite what to expect,” he explained, “because this week I spent five days in De Efteling and there’s not much chance to do cross-training there. I had a good feeling and that was confirmed. It was a nice cyclo-cross and it went well, but we must also not get too excited.

“Next week is the only serious cross,” he added, “because the big men will be there again.”

Last year’s Druivenveldrit was won by Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus), ahead of Kevin Pauwels (Telenet-Fidea) and Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet), all three of whom have been close to their top form in recent races. Although Boom himself won the race in 2005 (after Bart Wellens was disqualified after the infamous spectator kicking incident) but will likely find the chalenge a lot tougher this time with just one race under his belt.

After the race in Overijse, Boom will take part in most of the races over the Christmas period, including the World Cup in Heusden, Zolder on December 26th and the GP Sven Nys on January 1st. The main target for the season will be the defence of his Dutch driekleur jersey on January 9th before he starts to prepare for the road season once more.